GLAAD - christianityhttp://www.glaad.org/tags/christianity
enThe Reformation Project presents opportunity to reframe LGBT and Christian conversationhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/reformation-project-presents-opportunity-reframe-lgbt-and-christian-conversation
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-0-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-11/The%20Reformation%20Project.jpg?itok=2dvv9nzk" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Starting tomorrow, LGBT and allied Christians will be gathering in Washington, DC, for the conference of <a href="http://www.reformationproject.org/">The Reformation Project</a>. This conference, under the leadership of <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/matthew-vines-explains-biblical-support-lgbt-equality">Matthew Vines</a>, will bring together LGBT people, allies, Christians of all stripes, and probably more than few people that are coming to listen and learn about the overlap between LGBT people and Christianity.</p>
<p>What's the importance of a conference like this? It's not the first conference of LGBT Christians and their allies, but it comes at a critical time.</p>
<p>Three of the recent major LGBT and religion headlines have been gatherings of religious bodies to talk <em>about</em> LGBT people. Last month, the Vatican held an <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/vatican-synod-family-hears-about-lgbt-families-not-them">Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family</a>, discussing, among other things, the role of LGBT people in the church. After some initial documents that signaled the possible inclusion of LGBT people, the final report reaffirmed the Church's teaching that denies the reality of LGBT people.</p>
<p>Then we had the <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/looking-day-one-southern-baptists-anti-lgbt-conference">Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission</a>. This gathering gave a standing ovation to a florist who refused to sell flowers to a gay couples, claims that the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard was a hoax, and the insistence that homosexuality is "disordered behavior" and equated homosexuality with things like adultery. However, the leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention also held closed-door side meetings with LGBT Christian advocates. Then, at the closing, Russell Moore <a href="http://www.religionnews.com/2014/10/28/evangelical-leader-russell-moore-denounces-ex-gay-therapy/">denounced reparative therapy</a>, saying that attempts to change sexual orientation has been “severely counterproductive.”</p>
<p>And just days ago, a familiar line up of anti-LGBT figures <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/istandsunday-riles-anti-lgbt-crowd-houston-same-old-anti-lgbt-leaders">assembled in Houston for #IStandSunday</a>, presumably to protest the passage and defense of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, but often veered into attacks on LGBT people and their families. The message was any support on LGBT people, whether from government or even from within the church, would be seen as an attack on Christians.</p>
<p>That's what makes <a href="http://www.reformationproject.org/">The Reformation Project</a> unique and special. It is LGBT people and allies. And it goes beyond the regular talking leadership that we've seen over and over again. The conference will be a opportunity for all Christians who want to advance the dignity of LGBT people, especially Christians in non-affirming churches, denominations, or communities who seek to have more loving, fruitful, and informed conversations with non-affirming friends and family members. The focus is on training the participants to go forth and share their faith, and their support for LGBT people outside of the conference.</p>
<p>As significant media attention was paid to the Vatican, the Southern Baptist Convention, and #IStandSunday, it's time for the media to focus on a conference that doesn't look to examine LGBT people, or to lament that LGBT people are not simply cowering in the corner. The Reformation Project is one of many examples of faithful LGBT people and allies speaking out about faith and LGBT support. Currently, those people are underrepresented in mainstream media, but we have an opportunity to highlight them even more. </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">November 5, 2014</span></div></div></div>
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Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:08:34 +0000rossmurray72777 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/reformation-project-presents-opportunity-reframe-lgbt-and-christian-conversation#commentsTJ Montoya talks Christianity, the bible, and being gay.http://www.glaad.org/blog/tj-montoya-talks-christianity-bible-and-being-gay
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-1-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="1" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-09/TJ%20Montoya.jpg?itok=fMkAQq22" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><em>A YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHxfFfyFdKA">video has been going around the internet featuring a young gay man talking about the bible</a>. It's TJ Montoya, an 18 year-old senior at Seattle University. His 10-minute long video has already been viewed over 30,000 times on YouTube. It takes on his identity as a gay Christian and goes directly into the bible, clearing up misconceptions about what the bible has to say about LGBT people, and also as a personal testament to his faith.</em></p>
<p><em>TJ follows in the vein of other young, self-taught theologians, who are making the biblical case for LGBT equality. Many GLAAD followers are familiar with <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/matthew-vines-explains-biblical-support-lgbt-equality">Matthew Vines</a>, whose <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY">2012 YouTube video</a> is approaching a million views. Vines has continued to make his case for LGBT-inclusive Christianity, writing a book, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-matthew-vines-god-and-gay-christian-released-today">God and the Gay Christian</a>, and establishing <a href="http://www.reformationproject.org/">The Reformation Project</a>, which is hosting conferences for LGBT and pro-LGBT Christians around the country.</em></p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cHxfFfyFdKA" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p><em>GLAAD talked to TJ, and asked him about why he made the video and what he hopes to come from it. Take a look at the conversation below:</em></p>
<p><strong>In the video, it's clear that your faith is important to you. What was your church involvement growing up?</strong></p>
<p>My family is non-denominational Christian. I have gone to church every Sunday since I was born. As a middle-schooler and high-schooler, I also attended youth group every Wednesday. In high school, I became a leader for 7th grade boys and lead many camps and small groups. I also led camps with other churches in my area. Unfortunately, after I came out my sophomore year, I was asked to step down, or I would be forced to do so. I still attended that church for most of high school. Many of my friends there disagreed with the church's actions. Though, some students spread rumors and became very judgmental. My senior year, I stopped attending that particular church.</p>
<p><strong>What made you want to create a video like this?</strong></p>
<p>I have wanted to create this video for a very long time. I thought about making it back when I was 15. The reason I did not make it until now, is because I wasn't comfortable or confident enough. I also thought my family needed time to become more understanding and comfortable with me being out. I am currently 18 years old, so I thought it was an appropriate age to come out to the wider world and affirm by belief.</p>
<p>My goal of making this video was to help other young gay Christians like myself. There are too many young LGBT Christians who hate themselves or are hated by others and need to hear the message that God loves them no matter what. They also need to know that people like you and me support them. We can share a message that it does get better, because we are working to make it happen.</p>
<p><strong>Who have been your influences for accepting yourself as a gay man and as a Christian?</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/join-matthew-vines-august-8-discuss-christian-bible-and-place-lgbt-people">Matthew Vines</a> was probably one of the first to really shed some light on what the Bible actually says about homosexuality. <a href="https://www.gaychristian.net/">The Gay Christian Network</a> is something I only found recently; it has become a great resource that I often refer others to. However, it took a lot more than just religious arguments to help me become comfortable with who I am. I've had a YouTube account since 2010, the year I came out. People such as <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/youtube-stars-tyler-oakley-and-hannah-hart-present-google-and-youtube-glaadgala-san-francisco">Tyler Oakley, Hannah Hart</a>, Ryan James Yezak, and the members of Gays of the Week throughout the years have truly helped me accept myself. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Frank Ocean, Steve Grand, and Eli Lieb constantly produce music that I find to be encouraging. These artists remind me that it's normal to be gay and, more importantly, something to be proud of.</p>
<p><strong>Some of your influences are others who are making the biblical case for LGBT equality. Where do you think this shift in interpretation is coming from? How did that shift happen for you?</strong></p>
<p>At the age of 12, I began studying the Bible. At the time, I thought being and acting gay was a sin. I think the first major shift on my view of the Bible was the [<a href="http://www.glaad.org/2010/03/18/video-of-sigourney-weaver-accepting-an-award-for-prayers-for-bobby-at-the-21st-annual-glaad-media-awards-new-york">GLAAD Media Award winning] movie <em>Prayers for Bobby</em></a>, which I loved. At the same time, I disliked that it only mentioned the Old Testament. So I started reading different versions of the Bible. I also began researching the original language of the Bible. I had a couple of friends who were learning Greek and Hebrew, who helped me translate the original language of some of the verses in the New Testament. The word homosexuality, of course, wasn't included in any translation of the Bible until 1946.</p>
<p>I think a new trend is beginning of LGBT Christians speaking up for ourselves. Throughout history, there has been common knowledge that non-religious people argued that being gay is okay versus religious people who said being gay is an abomination. Today's society is safer for LGBT people, and people are coming out of the closet every day. It's time that people educated themselves and actually look at Christianity's teachings. Who better to speak up than people who are right in the middle of these two identities--gay and Christian.</p>
<p><strong>Do you have more plans to spread your message of LGBT-inclusive Christianity?</strong></p>
<p>I definitely plan to create more videos about religion, being gay, and other social issues that I'm passionate about. I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head.</p>
<p>I'm also in the process of creating a feature-length film that I hope to premier this spring (2015). The movie is a love story and deals with many social issues, including being gay and the Bible. After graduating from Seattle University this spring, I hope to enter the film industry and share my views with the world through my work in film.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 6, 2014</span></div></div></div>
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Sat, 06 Sep 2014 14:01:46 +0000rossmurray72162 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/tj-montoya-talks-christianity-bible-and-being-gay#commentsThis video should make every Christian cringe. What do we do about it?http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-should-make-every-christian-cringe-what-do-we-do-about-it
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-2-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="2" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-08/jesuswept.jpeg?itok=5lL-AjoU" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>A video making its way through the internet depicts one of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/28/family-son-coming-out-gay-video_n_5731462.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&amp;ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067">worst coming out experiences one can have</a>. In it, we hear a mother start with "I love you," and move quickly to kicking her son out of her home, to attacking and beating him.</p>
<p>The video is painful to watch (listen to, actually, since it's taken on a phone that's been hidden). They call his sexual orientation a choice, despite his assertions that it is not and her assertions that she knew he was gay from when he was a small child. In the end, the family attacks their child, calling him a “disgrace” before beating him and yelling, “You’re a damn queer!”</p>
<p>Many of the headlines have depicted this as "Christian parents beating and disowning their gay son." It's not an inaccurate title. The parents appeal to their Christian faith and to the bible as the justification for their actions.</p>
<p>This video should make every Christian cringe. This is not the faith that I was taught throughout my Christian education, from Sunday school to seminary. This does not sound like God calling all of creation "very good." This is not the example of Jesus, who laid down his life for his loved ones. This is not the apostles, sharing the good news with a diverse range of people. This is completely foreign to what the vast majority of Christians believe. In other words, a false gospel.</p>
<p>If you feel the need to watch that disturbing video, it's here:</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1df_i26wh-w" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p>Some question why it's important to continue working within communities of faith on issues of LGBT equality. Why do we need congregations to stand up in support of marriage equality? Why do we need faith leaders to speak out against employment non-discrimination? Why do we need people of faith rallying against bullying?</p>
<p>The answer is that if we don't, we allow this video to become the representation of Christianity that people are left with. I don’t believe, not for one second, that this family is following the will of God or the tenets of Christianity. They may believe it, but I suspect that they are following a false message.</p>
<p>But that's not the only reason. Both Christian communities and LGBT communities benefit when there is mutual support for one another. Youth find more stability and support when they're in intentional communities such as churches, and <a href="http://www.welcomingresources.org/welcomingtoolkit.pdf">Christian churches who have gone through the process of formally welcoming LGBT people</a> have found themselves to be much healthier.</p>
<p>In Matthew 7, Jesus tells us to test what we have been taught. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit," Jesus said. What are the fruits of what this family has been taught? Another homeless LGBT youth. And he's not alone. Studies find that of the homeless youth population, 40% identify as LGBT, despite being less than 10% of the youth population. And nearly <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/why-media-should-care-about-lgbt-youth-who-are-homeless">90% of homeless LGBT youth are homeless specifically because they are LGBT</a>, and, like the video, they were kicked out of their home, harassed, or neglected.</p>
<p>On the other hand, what's the fruit that is produced by the call to love "God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself."? That love reduces youth homelessness, discrimination, poverty, depression, and a host of ills that plague our society, not just for LGBT people, but for all of us.</p>
<p>As a Christian, and as a gay man, this video sickens me. Someone needs to tell this family that disowning and beating their son are not Christian actions. Beyond just pointing blame on them, we need to take a hard look at what we believe about LGBT people and where those messages are coming from. If it doesn't bear good fruit, then it must be dismissed.</p>
<p>If we encounter preaching and teaching that this sort of discrimination is acceptable, or even desirable, we have a duty to call it the false teaching that it is. Calling out bad theology isn't anti-Christian. In fact, it may be exactly what Christianity needs to survive and even thrive in this day and age. For too long, we have allowed anti-LGBT forces to co-opt the message of the gospel and turn it into a weapon. And for this family, who really believes they are following Jesus' teachings as they understand them, we need to say that the way these Christians behave does not reflect Christian teachings.</p>
<p>The time is now for Christians to step up and speak out. Do not let this family's actions set the standard for how Christians treat LGBT people. Do not let the one who taught them this is acceptable have the last word. Use your voice and share your belief that God has created, knows and loves all God's children, including those who are LGBT.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">August 29, 2014</span></div></div></div>
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Fri, 29 Aug 2014 02:51:15 +0000rossmurray72093 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/video-should-make-every-christian-cringe-what-do-we-do-about-it#commentsJessica Alba on her faith and being an ally http://www.glaad.org/blog/jessica-alba-her-faith-and-being-ally
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-3-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="3" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-08/jessicaalba.png?itok=xzmzs-42" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Jessica Alba revealed her true motivation for leaving the church during a <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/18/jessica-alba-on-sin-city-typecasting-and-how-homophobia-pushed-her-away-from-the-church.html" target="_blank">candid interview with <em>The Daily Beast </em></a>on Monday. Alba grew up Catholic but converted to Evangelicalism before abandoning religion altogether, considering herself to be simply spiritual. <a href="http://www.latina.com/entertainment/religion-backgrounds-latino-celebrities#6" target="_blank">She has spoken before</a> about the church's treatment of women as a factor that made her uncomfortable, but never has she mentioned the church's stance on being gay as another reason for her discomfort, until Monday's interview.</p>
<p>Alba opened up about her relationship with a bisexual boy when she was 16. She said that while she was at the Atlantic Theater Company in Vermont, she fell in love with the boy, who was a ballet dancer. Alba said:</p>
<blockquote><p>"We used to go to this gay club and I’d dance with him all night, four nights a week. I was <em>so</em> in love with him and thought, 'There’s no way this guy’s going to hell,' because in my church, it was, 'Anybody who’s gay is going to hell' and 'Premarital sex is evil,' and I thought, 'There’s no chance! This guy is amazing!'"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Alba realized that the anti-LGBT rhetoric of her church conflicted with her deep support of LGBT people. For this and other reasons, Alba made the personal decision to throw religion "right out the window."</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media-element file-file-styles-300px" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2273903%22,%22view_mode%22:%22file_styles_300px%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22format%22:%22file_styles_300px%22,%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" height="375" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/300px/public/images/2014-08/jessica-alba-glaad-media-awards-hollywood-highland..._850_watermark-text_0.jpg?itok=A3nYMHzQ" style="float: left;" width="300" />Alba's strong support of the LGBT community is nothing new. The actress was present at the 17<sup>th</sup> Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles in 2006, and again at the 20<sup>th</sup> Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles in 2009.</p>
<p>However, increasingly more and more LGBT people are learning to reconcile their sexual and gender identities with their religious beliefs and even finding solace and comfort in their religious communities. For example, earlier this summer, the <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/meet-alex-mcneill-trans-advocate-bringing-equality-presbyterian-church" target="_blank">Presbyterian Church of the USA</a> took the progressive step of permitting same-sex marriage within the denomination. And <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/christian-home-risk-youth-fires-top-caregiver-being-gay" target="_blank">Casey Stegall</a>, despite losing his job at a religious-affiliated Children's Home for being gay, found immense support at the Metropolitan Community Church, an evangelical LGBT denomination. At<a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/minneapolis-star-tribune-profiles-naming-project-lgbt-christian-youth-camp" target="_blank"> The Naming Project Summer Camp</a>, a program for Christian youth of all sexual and gender identities, the campers learn that being Christian and being LGBT is not in fact a contradiction. <img alt="" class="media-element file-file-styles-400px" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2273902%22,%22view_mode%22:%22file_styles_400px%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22format%22:%22file_styles_400px%22,%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" height="268" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/400px/public/images/2014-08/vickybeeching2_0.jpg?itok=U4haklkf" style="float: right;" width="400" /></p>
<p>Most recently, Christian rockstar <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/christian-rock-star-vicky-beeching-courageously-comes-out-conservative-audience" target="_blank">Vicky Beeching came out </a>to a conservative audience, saying "What Jesus taught was a radical message of welcome and inclusion and love. I feel certain God loves me just the way I am, and I have a huge sense of calling to communicate that to young people…rather than abandon it and say it’s broken, I want to be part of the change."</p>
<p>Christian allies of the LGBT community have also been coming forward. <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/christian-band-jars-clay-frontman-comes-out-ally-3-days-tweeting" target="_blank">Dan Haseltine</a>, lead singer of the Christian folk band Jars of Clay tweeted a bunch of messages proclaiming his support of equality.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><p>I don't particularly care about Scriptures stance on what is "wrong." I care more about how it says we should treat people.</p>
<p>— Dan Haseltine (@scribblepotemus) <a href="https://twitter.com/scribblepotemus/statuses/458642763152908288">April 22, 2014</a></p></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Pop sensation<a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-demi-lovato-shows-her-love-lgbt-community" target="_blank"> Demi Lovato</a> even opened her newest music video (which was shot at the LA Pride Parade where she was Grand Marshall) saying "You don't have to hate because my Jesus loves all." <img alt="" class="media-element file-file-styles-300px" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2272779%22,%22view_mode%22:%22file_styles_300px%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22format%22:%22file_styles_300px%22,%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" height="300" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/300px/public/images/2014-07/demiinstagram.png?itok=wsewxw5x" style="float: right;" width="300" /></p>
<p>Every individual's religious beliefs are personal, and support for the LGBT community does not necessarily conflict with religion. This was simply Alba's personal journey which she so honestly shared.</p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">August 22, 2014</span></div></div></div>
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<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/bisexuality">Bisexuality</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/jessica-alba">Jessica Alba</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/religion">Religion</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/christianity">christianity</a>, </li>
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Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:55:20 +0000jkatz72021 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/jessica-alba-her-faith-and-being-ally#commentsMark Regnerus' new "study" tries to prove pro-LGBT Christians are badhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/mark-regnerus-new-study-tries-prove-pro-lgbt-christians-are-bad
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-4-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="4" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-08/Mark-Regnerus.png?itok=ZxQX8QkG" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Mark Regnerus, the "sociology scholar" (if one can call him that) who is most famous for his thoroughly debunked study on same-sex parenting, came out with a new "study" trying to "prove" that pro-LGBT Christians will lead to an immoral, sexually unrestrained world. Like his first study, Regnerus' new study is clearly motivated by politics as opposed to sophisticated scholarship and contains weak arguments.</p>
<p>For those of you unfamiliar with Regnerus' previous study, a rehash can help provide context for this "researcher's" reliability. A couple years back, Regnerus, an assistant professor at the University of Texas no one had heard of, suddenly made the national spotlight when anti-LGBTQ equality activists rallied around a study he had just published. <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/flawed-paper-claims-overturn-30-years-credible-research-shows-gay-and-lesbian-parents-are-good">The "study" showed that children raised by same-sex parents fared worse in comparison to children raised by heterosexual couples.</a> The only problem with the study, however, was that the study didn't actually study children raised by same-sex parents. Instead, the study, <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/13/45683" target="_blank">except for less than 1% of participants</a>, examined adults had been raised decades ago in what was called "broken" homes; and, as David Badash of <a href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/discredited_sociologist_mark_regnerus_unveils_his_latest_study_based_on_attacking_same_sex_marriage?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNewCivilRightsMovement+%28The+New+Civil+Rights+Movement%29" target="_blank">The New Civil Rights Movement</a> aptly notes, "Naturally, children raised in troubled homes might be more likely to have emotional challenges as adults -- which is why marriage, including same-sex marriage, is important."</p>
<p>The study was so obviously flawed, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/journals-editorial-board-member-calls-anti-gay-paper-bullsht">liberals and conservatives alike criticized it. </a>When the study was used as evidence in a federal court case, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/michigan-judge-denies-testimony-unqualified-anti-lgbt-activists-regnerus-still-good-testify">the judge dismissed it as "entirely unbelievable and not worthy of serious consideration." </a>It was later revealed that the study was driven by its anti-LGBTQ equality agenda from the start, further confirming that it in no way undermined the consensus of studies that in fact show children raised by same-sex couples fare just as well as children raised by any other parents.<img height="144" width="220" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;" class="media-element file-file-styles-medium" src="https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/mark-regnerus-6.jpg?itok=tUpn8lOJ" alt="" /></p>
<p>After being so embarrassingly and thoroughly debunked, the fact that <a href="http://www.bilerico.com/2014/08/nom_trumpets_new_regnerus_slippery-slope_study.php" target="_blank">anti-LGBTQ groups are now taking Regnerus' new "study" seriously</a> shows how desperate these groups to persuade the public.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2014/08/12/66419"><em>Box Turtle Bulletin</em>'s</a> analysis, Jim Burroway makes a good point that Regnerus' new "study" is not a published, scholarly study but a blog post, despite how seriously anti-LGBTQ groups are taking it.</p>
<p>In short, Regnerus' blog post, rather than targeting same-sex parents, targets pro-LGBT Christians and attempts to prove that favoring marriage equality leads to a sexually unrestrained, immoral world – a range of "Very Bad Things," Burroway puts it. In demonstrating his claim, Regnerus compares churchgoing Christians who oppose marriage equality to churchgoing Christians who support marriage equality in their views on pornography, premarital cohabitation, divorce, polyamory, and abortion. For further comparison, Regnerus also surveys the views of Christian and non-Christian gays and lesbians ("notice here he drops “Churchgoing” — is this yet another <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/11/45581">apples to horse meat comparison</a> that he’s so fond of?"), as well as those of the general population.</p>
<p>The findings? Churchgoing Christians who support marriage equality are more like to support Regnerus' list of Very Bad Things than churchgoing Christians who oppose marriage equality. Gay and lesbian Christians are even more likely to support Very Bad Things, and, Burroway writes, "for Gay and Lesbian non-Christians, the numbers are off the charts. Speaking of charts, he handily provides this one that others can pull out and repost, shorn of all context and the few caveats he bothers to throw in:"</p>
<p><img height="309" width="480" class="media-element file-file-styles-large" src="https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/2014-08/Regnerus-Graph.jpg?itok=gdkjwysd" alt="" /></p>
<p>Why is Regnerus' new "study" so suspect? Burroway writes,</p>
<blockquote><p>Like I said, this isn’t a study. It doesn’t have any of the hallmarks of a study, not even like those you’ll find in his <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/10/45512">deliberately flawed study</a> that a low-ranked journal <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/15/45638">bent over backwards</a> to publish for political reasons. He calls this Religion In America survey “a population-based sample, meaning that its results are nationally representative,” but he doesn’t describe how it came about. For a real study, you can’t just say that and leave it at that. He also doesn’t provide any of the standard tests to show which comparisons are statistically relevant in his chart. Even the lowest ranking journals would reject a study outright if it doesn’t include that critical information. And as I said, he doesn’t define some of his subpopulation categories, and we’ve already seen how he has exploited those definitions to <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/10/45512">force the results</a> he wants to get. We have ample grounds to question whether he’s up to that old trick again. So until he publishes these results with at least a <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/21/45576">thin veneer of rigor</a>, there really isn’t much to see here.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Beyond methodology, Regnerus' conclusions are much too simplistic by academic standards. Regnerus assumes that support of marriage equality is an isolated variable; in other words, that supporting marriage equality directly <em>causes</em> one to support Very Bad Things. Although Regnerus says in his article that he is not making this "slippery slope" argument, the blog post's title "Tracking Christian Sexual Morality in a Same-Sex Marriage Future,” says otherwise. History shows that Regnerus including a caveat in a study does not stop him from ignoring these caveats when talking to the public to make his argument seem stronger than it actually is:</p>
<blockquote><p>When he published that so-called “gay parenting study” in 2012, he peppered it with <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/10/45512">a host of caveats</a>:</p>
<p>The NFSS is not a longitudinal study, and therefore cannot attempt to broach questions of causation. … It does not evaluate the offspring of gay marriages, since the vast majority of its respondents came of age prior to the legalization of gay marriage in several states … American courts are finding arguments against gay marriage decreasingly persuasive. This study is intended to neither undermine nor affirm any legal rights concerning such.</p>
<p>But when Regnerus spoke to the press, he resolutely <a href="http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/06/13/45683">abandoned</a> all of those caveats. My prediction: he’ll do the same with the slippery slope argument. My reaction: good luck with that. Marriage equality opponents have been flailing that dead horse for more than a decade, and there is zero evidence that it has moved the needle one iota in their direction.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Burroway also points out that Regnerus' obvious implication that supporting marriage equality causes one to support Very Bad Things has a precedent in overly simplistic, radical anti-LGBTQ equality rhetoric:</p>
<blockquote><p>It’s reminiscent of what <em>The Weekly Standard’s</em> Stanley Kurtz <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/660zypwj.asp">tried to claim</a> in 2004 when he said that Registered Partnerships in Scandinavia (there was no same-sex marriage at the time) had already led to more divorces, fewer marriages and more out-of-wedlock children, while ignoring the fact that those trends were well in place long before the idea of recognizing same-sex relationships came along. In other words, same-sex marriage (or registered partnerships) was not a controlling variable for those other trends, and there’s no reason to believe it’s a controlling variable for Regnerus’s Very Bad Things here.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Even assuming the study <em>is</em> perfectly sound, which is very unlikely, what exactly does it "prove"? According to Regnerus, it's that supporting marriage equality will lead you to support anything-goes sex, and unlimited abortion, and so on.</p>
<p>Burroway provides a far more logical explanation:</p>
<blockquote><p>Those who oppose marriage equality are much more likely to be the kinds of busybodies with Deeply Held Beliefs about how <em>other</em> people should live their lives. They may say they they oppose pre-marital sex, extra-martial sex, no-strings sex, and getting divorced despite having children — for other people — but they will wind up doing those many of those Very Bad Things themselves at rates rather similar to, and in some cases (<a href="http://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php?action=story&amp;story=137892">divorce</a>, for example) higher than many other people, despite what they may say in a survey.</p>
<p>Conversely, those who support marriage equality are more likely to have a healthier, more <em>laissez-faire</em> attitude toward how other people order their lives, and they tend to be much less judgmental of other people. And gays and lesbians, who have experienced a lifetime of busybodies giving them unrealistic, unsolicited edicts in how to order their lives, are the most reluctant of all to turn around and do the same to others. And what about the Population Average? Well, nobody likes a busybody.</p>
</blockquote>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">August 14, 2014</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
</ul>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/christianity">christianity</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/mark-regnerus">Mark Regnerus</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/junk-science">junk science</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/marriage-equality">Marriage Equality</a></li>
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Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:04:02 +0000jpulitano71968 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/mark-regnerus-new-study-tries-prove-pro-lgbt-christians-are-bad#commentsFaith leaders urge President Obama to minimize religious exemption for protection against LGBT discriminationhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/faith-leaders-urge-president-obama-minimize-religious-exemption-protection-against-lgbt
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-5-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="5" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/obama01_16773717.jpg?itok=Khm98NBR" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>On July 8, over a hundred high-level faith leaders from diverse religious traditions signed and sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to minimize a religious exemption in his upcoming executive order protecting LGBT people from discrimination.</p>
<p>The exemption, if included, would allow companies and service agencies that receive federal contracts to fire people for being LGBT for "religious" reasons." According to the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/09/us/faith-groups-seek-exclusion-from-bias-rule.html?_r=0" target="_blank"><em>New York Times</em></a>, that means LGBT people would be able to be fired from huge companies that do business with the federal government, such as Exxon Mobil and Dell, as well as universities and charities that have federal contracts, provided that the employers fire them on "religious" grounds.</p>
<p>The faith leaders who signed this letter, however, held that favoring discrimination is anything but "religious." Bishop Gene Robinson (shown below), the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, said on the matter,</p>
<blockquote><p>It is not right for any person or any corporation to use their religious beliefs, no matter how sincerely held, to trample the rights and beliefs of others… Nothing could be more contrary to the Golden Rule, articulated in every world religion.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Among the letter's signers were five seminary presidents, four former members of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, five members of a presidential <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/partnerships-reform-office.pdf" target="_blank">taskforce</a> to reform the office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, heads of nonprofits, denomination heads, congregational clergy, scholars and theologians.<img height="145" width="220" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;" class="media-element file-file-styles-medium" src="https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/images/2014-05/gene%20robinson.jpg?itok=cBVP75wi" alt="" /></p>
<p>The letter was in part a response to last week's Hobby Lobby decision, which created a slippery slope for "religious" exemptions of protecting basic human rights. Jay Michaelson, a visiting scholar at Brown University and author of <em>God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality</em><em>, warned,</em></p>
<blockquote><p>Those pushing for exemptions will not be satisfied until the underlying laws themselves are destroyed. For this reason, it is important to hold firm and refuse any ‘religious exemption’ except the most narrow ones for churches and ministers. Anything else is just playing into the hands of those who oppose equality.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Along with this week's letter, more than 30,000 Christians from across the country have signed a grassroots <a href="http://act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/executiveorder" target="_blank">petition</a> urging President Obama to stand strong in the face of religious leaders seeking to use their faith as a justification for anti-LGBT discrimination. The petition, organized by the online community Faithful America, reads, “There's nothing Christian about firing someone just because they're gay or lesbian. Taxpayer dollars shouldn't fund discrimination."</p>
<p>Rev. Fred Davie, a former member of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Executive Vice President at Union Theological Seminary, noted that those who support a religious exemption are on the wrong side of history:</p>
<blockquote><p>Religions of the world across the ages have engendered and supported discrimination and bigotry from deceptively genteel to utterly horrific…We have also sacrificed our very lives for our neighbors in response to God's radical and unrelenting call to love others as much as we love ourselves. I ask now that we opt for love of the other and inclusion, especially when accepting the public's money.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/8wzzpbviygds1pv/Faith%20Letter%20to%20President%20Defending%20Exec%20Order%202014-07-08%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Read the full letter sent to President Obama here.</a></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 11, 2014</span></div></div></div>
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<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/anti-lgbt-discrimination">anti-LGBT discrimination</a>, </li>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/president-obama">President Obama</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/bishop-gene-robinson">Bishop Gene Robinson</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/hobby-lobby">Hobby Lobby</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/christianity">christianity</a>, </li>
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Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:49:43 +0000jpulitano71658 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/faith-leaders-urge-president-obama-minimize-religious-exemption-protection-against-lgbt#commentsIs the marriage equality debate causing religious congregations to split? The research says nohttp://www.glaad.org/blog/marriage-equality-debate-causing-religious-congregations-split-research-says-no
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-6-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="6" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-07/gay%20marriage%20in%20church.jpg?itok=L97l5vCJ" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>In the strong religious disputes over marriage equality, many claims arise that these issues cause schisms within congregations and split up religious communities. How accurate are these speculations? A recent <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/what-schism-gay-lesbian-i_b_5545951.html" target="_blank"><em>Huffington Post</em> article</a> takes up the question and looks at the scholarly research on the subject, and concludes that, actually, debates involving marriage equality and issues of sexuality affect local congregations very little.</p>
<p>It is true that most people, whether they support or oppose marriage equality, consider marriage equality an important issue to their personal morals: In the <a href="http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Analysis/MORALITY/MORALITY_Var152_1.asp" target="_blank">2012 Measuring Morality Study</a>, "More than half of Americans say their position on same-sex marriage is from 'moderately' to 'very much' a reflection of their core moral beliefs and convictions."</p>
<p><img height="220" width="162" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right; width: 162px; height: 220px;" class="media-element file-file-styles-medium" src="https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/gay-churchs600x600.jpg?itok=-B7jMloM" alt="" />When it comes to generating conflict within local congregations, however, research indicates that sexuality is very low on the list of causes. <a href="http://www.uscongregations.org/beyond-the-ordinary/congregational-conflict-increasing-or-decreasing/" target="_blank">According to the 2008-2009 U.S. Congregational Life Survey</a>, the greatest sources of congregational conflict are pastoral leadership issues, finances, and worship changes. Even "concerns over buildings and changes in music style" were ranked as higher sources of conflict within congregations than sexuality, among several other sources.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Analysis/NCSCUM/NCSCUM_Var588_1.asp" target="_blank">Another study</a> reported that among all of the religious congregations having a dispute serious enough to call a special meeting within the past two years, the conflict involved issues of sexual orientation in only 3 percent of the cases.</p>
<p>Issues of sexual orientation simply are not viewed as important issues for religious congregations in the grander scheme of things:</p>
<blockquote><p>In <a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/news-media/documents/membership-poll-june-2014.pdf" target="_blank">an online survey conducted by The United Methodist Church this spring</a>, members said the most important issues facing the denomination are creating disciples for Christ, getting more youth involved, helping people grow spiritually and addressing membership losses. Issues of sexual orientation and same-sex marriage ranked eighth.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Dawne Moon, sociologist of Marquette University, attributed this lack of importance to the fact that "People are more likely to look for congregations they are comfortable in already…People don't really care as much about the particular denomination as what happens in a congregation." Gays and lesbians in particular, she said, tend to avoid congregations that are hostile to who they are; while people who oppose being gay likewise tend to join congregations that hold similar views.</p>
<p>Cynthia Woolever, who directed the U.S. Congregational Life survey for many years, said that for many congregations, regarding issues of sexual orientation, "it just seems irrelevant."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/what-schism-gay-lesbian-i_b_5545951.html" target="_blank">Read the full article at the <em>Huffington Post</em>.</a></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 8, 2014</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
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<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/marriage-equality">Marriage Equality</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/christianity">christianity</a></li>
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</div>
Tue, 08 Jul 2014 17:58:09 +0000jpulitano71618 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/marriage-equality-debate-causing-religious-congregations-split-research-says-no#commentsReligion News Summary - June 13, 2014http://www.glaad.org/blog/religion-news-summary-june-13-2014
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-7-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="7" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-06/california%20baptist%20university.jpg?itok=efayeUq5" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Baptist news has been difficult for the transgender community lately. A <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/southern-baptist-convention-officially-condemns-transgender-people" target="_blank">resolution was passed</a> at the Southern Baptist Conference this past weekend officially condemning transgender people; while in California, <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/05/30/judge-expected-to-rule-on-expulsion-of-transgender-student-from-cal-baptist/" target="_blank">a transgender woman, Domaine Javier, sues California Baptist University for expelling her for putting "female" on her forms</a>. In contrast, Baptist stories of acceptance of same-sex relationships have springing up all over the media in recent weeks. A church in Kentucky is <a href="http://www.wave3.com/story/25635583/highland-baptist-to-perform-same-sex-marriages" target="_blank">the first Baptist church to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples</a>, despite its lack of legality in the state and lack of acceptance in the official dogma of the Southern Baptist Church. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/02/baptist-church-pastor-gay-son_n_5432880.html" target="_blank">A Baptist church in California reverses its position to support being gay after the pastor's son comes out in a touching video: </a></p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AyT636qfJ7A" width="560"></iframe></p><p>See below for the pastor's full statement on why he changed his stance on being gay. Furthermore, <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/03/4952335/rabbis-group-joins-nc-same-sex.html#.U5h9kyiwWtv" target="_blank">Baptist as well as Jewish congregations join the United Church of Christ's protest against the marriage equality ban in North Carolina</a>. Even regarding the radical Westboro Baptist Church, the deceased founder <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/23/fred-phelps-equality_n_5378433.html" target="_blank">Fred Phelps allegedly may have had a change of heart towards being gay</a> shortly before his death.</p>
<p><img height="220" width="220" style="width: 220px; height: 220px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" class="media-element file-file-styles-medium" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/images/2014-06/tyler%20glenn.jpeg?itok=I-bLAjls" alt="" /></p>
<p>On the Mormon front, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/12/us-usa-utah-mormons-idUSKBN0EN02V20140612" target="_blank">two Mormon activists are threatened with excommunication</a> for their social justice work advocating equality for women and the LGBT community. <a href="http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/rock-singer-tyler-glenn-how-his-struggle-be-mormon-and-openly-gay060614#sthash.8jWmguIB.dpuf" target="_blank">Rock singer Tyler Glenn goes public with his struggle but determination to remain both Mormon and openly gay</a>. Last week a three-day conference with North Star International was devoted to conversations on this issue of being LGBT and Mormon. <a href="http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-35-19236-when-will-the-lds-churjch-realize-that-their-bigos.html" target="_blank">An article from Salt Lake City News</a> is worth a read to get a sense of the diversity in viewpoints at the conference, which advertises itself as being neutral on efforts to change sexual orientation and gender identity, and the types of discussions that were held.</p>
<p>Mormons aren't the only ones split on the issue. A group of over 80 clergy members from the United Methodist Church recently released a statement citing a crisis over same-sex marriage and gay clergy debates. The pastors who released the statement wrote that the disagreements were irreconcilable and that <a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/united.methodist.church.split.schism.same.sex.marriage.gay.clergy.issues/37749.htm" target="_blank">the only solution may be an official schism of the church</a>.</p>
<p><img height="147" width="220" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right; width: 220px; height: 147px;" class="media-element file-file-styles-medium" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/images/2014-05/pope%20francis.jpg?itok=QE6IIBa-" alt="" /></p>
<p>Recent news also features many cases of Christian schools kicking out teachers and students for being gay. Such victims include <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/college-athlete-kicked-out-his-christian-school-being-gay" target="_blank">distance runner Anthony Villarreal of William Jessup University</a> in California and <a href="http://thegavoice.com/gay-macon-band-director-fired-marrying-partner/" target="_blank">high school band teacher Flint Dollar of Mount de Sales Academy</a> in Georgia. Dollar's case was one among a string of incidents of teachers being fired from Catholic schools, prompting these teachers to pair with the Human Rights Campaign and <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/lgbt-catholics-allies-are-being-unjustly-fired-and-have-asked-pope-talk-them-about-it">write a letter to the Pope</a>.</p>
<p><img height="220" width="145" style="width: 145px; height: 220px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" class="media-element file-file-styles-medium" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/images/2014-06/transgender%20and%20jewish.jpg?itok=af2Q6CpA" alt="" />From a more positive vein, several books have been penned lately by religious people reconciling their genders and sexualities with their faiths: Naomi Zeveloff's <a href="http://lgbtweekly.com/2014/05/22/transgender-and-jewish/" target="_blank"><em>Transgender and Jewish</em></a>, Matthew Vines'<em> <a href="http://time.com/2842044/gay-christians/" target="_blank">God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships</a></em>, and Jennifer Knapp's <a href="http://www.breathecast.com/articles/jennifer-knapp-gay-christian-memoir-releases-in-october-16011/" target="_blank"><em>Facing the Music: Discovering Real Life, Real Love, and Real Faith</em></a>.</p>
<p>More projects reconciling faith and queer identity include Samra Habib's <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/just-me-and-allah-photography-series-and-tumblr-documents-queer-muslims" target="_blank">Queer Muslim photography project</a>; and Tufts University student Jordan Dashow's <a href="http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/keshet/2014/06/02/what-does-it-mean-to-have-pride-in-ones-identities/" target="_blank">essay on having pride in being both Jewish and queer</a>. Al Jazeera America recently featured a gay man from Togo living in Harlem in <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/features/2014/6/to-be-gay-christianandblackinharlem.html" target="_blank">a poignant article highlighting the intersection of race, religion, and sexuality</a>.</p>
<p>Danny Cortez's sermon on why he changed his stance on being gay:</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WqYvkVqVLFo" width="560"></iframe></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">June 13, 2014</span></div></div></div>
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Wed, 11 Jun 2014 17:46:12 +0000jpulitano71290 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/religion-news-summary-june-13-2014#commentsReligious expression, the myth of the persecuted Christian, and anti-LGBT discriminationhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/religious-expression-myth-persecuted-christian-and-anti-lgbt-discrimination
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-8-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="8" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/bill-of-rights-7471-20111112-51.jpg?itok=bNNpZA8n" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>As the movement for marriage equality continues, it is an unfortunate inevitability that backlash from those opposed to it increases. When it comes to public and governmental institutions, fair and equal access is now becoming increasingly protected by law, e.g. the Defense Department's extension of rights to married LGBT couples, the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and access to public housing for married LGBT couples. Yet, when dealing with private institutions, the issue becomes far more complex and nuanced, especially when anti-LGBT business and private service providers cite their guaranteed freedom of religious expression as a justification for their discrimination. </p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/02/sweet-cakes-by-melissa-closed-_n_3856184.html">bakery in Oregon</a> recently refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple, stating it was their "Christian" obligation to refuse to provided services to an LGBT married couple. After some costly litigation and investigative inquiry by state officials, the bakery chose to close its doors. There was a sign left in the window: "We will continue to stand strong. Your religious freedom is not becoming free anymore".</p>
<p><img class="media-image media-image-right" id="3" style="float: right;;;" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/1200px/public/ReligiousFreedomStamp.jpg?itok=fYQvQmiB" alt="" /></p>
<p>As society becomes more connected and people become more educated about the lives of LGBT people, tolerance and acceptance increases. Yet, as this slow cultural shift occurs, there is an often unforeseen consequence. Those opposed to LGBT equality on religious grounds now erroneously believe that the diminished influence of their voice entitles them to special protection.</p>
<p>We cannot allow our guaranteed right of religious expression to become a shield for those who choose to oppress. Groups who use their religious beliefs to oppose LGBT equality now believe that there has been some inversion of the social order; they erroneously believe that those who they continue to oppress now are oppressing them. The sign in the Oregon bakery is alarming because it turns the oppressor into a victim. The focus should remain on the lesbian couple who were unfairly denied access to a business service – a secular business whose job is to bake cakes and muffins, not consecrate bread and wine.</p>
<p>It is undeniable that freedom of religious expression is one of the principles which led to the founding of this nation. The Pilgrims left one Plymouth for another in search of a new land where they could worship without fear of persecution. Religious freedom exists in order to prevent discrimination. Using it as a justification for continued discrimination is antithetical to its very purpose.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="266" id="2" style="height: 266px; width: 425px;;;" width="425" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Thanksgiving-Brownscombe.jpg?itok=E4hVir6w" alt="" /></p>
<p>At one point in time, the Bible and arguments regarding the freedom of religious expression were used as a justification for institutionalized racial discrimination, chattel slavery, and prohibition of interracial marriage. Conservative preachers would cite the Bible as a means of adding divine ordinance to their man-made social constructs of inequality. They were too myopic and arrogant to distinguish between Biblical principle and Biblical practice.</p>
<p>This distinction must also be made in discussions of the law. Laws guaranteeing the freedom of religious expression exist based on the principle – one that is constitutionally enshrined – that none should be discriminated against. When this law is put into practice in a manner that leads to the persecution of others it is a perverted and maligned miscarriage of justice. </p>
<p>When voices like those of the discriminatory bakery owners are elevated by the media, a dangerous fallacy is perpetuated; the myth that Christians in America are a persecuted group. This myth is the foundation on which those opposed to equality base their distorted view of religious liberty. When anti-LGBT religious activists are given a sounding board by the mainstream media, false credibility is ascribed to them, enabling them to influence a greater number of individuals. Denying these pundits the ability to express their opinions – regardless of their lunacy – is just as un-American as distorting the definition of freedom of religious expression. Thus, it is the job of the media, in their quest to provide balanced and objective coverage, to use resources like GLAAD’s <a href="http://www.glaad.org/cap">Commentator Accountability Project</a> in order to uncover the history and credibility of various ant-LGBT commentators. By creating an environment of complete transparency within media coverage, anti-LGBT religious pundits lose their ability to portray themselves as “oppressed” and thus their ability to shield themselves from scrutiny with cries for freedom of religious expression.</p>
<p>The next time you hear a commentator claim that their inability to deny services to LGBT individuals with in a secular context somehow violates their freedom of religious expression, remember two things. First, remember to investigate the credibility of the commentator using GLAAD’s<a href="http://www.glaad.org/cap"> Commentator Accountability Project</a>. Second, remember that using constitutional rights as a means of denying them from others is never acceptable.</p>
<p>If you ever hear any form of defamation against LGBT persons by the media, remember to <a href="http://www.glaad.org/reportdefamation">report the incident to GLAAD</a>!</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 12, 2013</span></div></div></div>
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Thu, 12 Sep 2013 03:52:16 +0000patrickkeough68042 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/religious-expression-myth-persecuted-christian-and-anti-lgbt-discrimination#commentsViolent preaching video targets not LGBT couples, but their clergy allieshttp://www.glaad.org/blog/violent-preaching-video-targets-not-lgbt-couples-their-clergy-allies
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-9-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="9" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/339457893_640.jpg?itok=qa3bD0-w" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Matt Brown, the lead pastor of <a href="http://www.sandalschurch.com/">Sandals Church</a> in Riverside, California, preached to his congregation about whether they should attend the wedding of a gay or lesbian couple. He spoke of being the best neighbor possible to the LGBT couple, but had <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2013/07/video-california-pastor-says-hell-punch-go-old-testament-on-gay-marrying-clergy.html">particularly violent words</a> for clergy who bless the marriage.</p>
<object width="350" height="220">
<embed width="350" height="220" src="http://www.goodasyou.org/player.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.goodasyou.org/pastorsandals.flv&amp;image=http://www.goodasyou.org/pastorsandals.png" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed></object><p>"I really don't have that much of an issue with a gay couple, but I do want to go 'old testament' on the pastor that's saying 'this is great,'" said Pastor Brown. "And that would be unfortunate for us as a church, for me to punch a pastor in the middle of a sermon, and I'm in jail, and you have to explain to people why Pastor Matt's in jail."</p>
<p>This is a shift from last summer, when violent anti-gay preaching was directed at LGBT people. Pastor <a href="Providence%20Road%20Baptist%20Church">Charles Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church in North Carolina</a> suggested in a sermon to his congregation that LGBT people be placed behind an electric fence until they died out. <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/05/02/474809/amendment-one-pastor-crack-your-four-year-old-sons-limp-wrist/">Sean Harris of the Berean Baptist Church Fayetteville, North Carolina</a> suggested beating a son who was too effeminate to toughen him up.</p>
<p>Pastor Brown attacks clergy who have studied scripture, prayed, and discerned that God's will is for gay and lesbian people to form loving, stable relationships. He claims that these pastors have "thrown Jesus out in the name of love."</p>
<p>Some facts to remember:</p>
<ul><li style="margin-left: 38.25pt;">Jesus said nothing about gay and lesbian people or their relationships. The vast majority of his public condemnation was for those who preach piety, yet do little to alleviate suffering, especially for the poor.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 38.25pt;">Jesus' quote that a "man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" is in response to a question about whether it is legal to divorce (Mark 10:7-8). This sentence often is misconstrued to be a comment on gay and lesbian relationships, and yet is not focused on gay and lesbian people at all.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 38.25pt;">While Pastor Brown is upset that pastors have "thrown Jesus out in the name of love," he forgets that God is love (1 John 4 repeats this phrase over and over). The love that exists between two members of a couple, just like the love of neighbor, of family, and humanity, is understood widely in Christian circles as an expression of the love of God.</li>
</ul><p>Pastor Matt Brown admonishes his congregation to be "good neighbors" to their LGBT neighbors, and claims that he will be "the best neighbor to a homosexual couple. Welcome them. Greet them. Love their kids. Coach their kids. I'll be the best ever."</p>
<p>However, his violent language toward other clergy negates any claims he has about being a good neighbor. A good neighbor does not physically attack others.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="300" id="2" style="height: 300px; width: 300px; float: right;;;;" width="300" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/ncavp_5_3.png?itok=7DC0pvhm" alt="" />Pastor Brown's sermon comes at a time that the LGBT community is experiencing highly publicized levels of violence. In the most recent report on anti-LGBTQ hate violence in 2012, the <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/ncavp-report-2012-hate-violence-disproportionately-target-transgender-women-color">National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects</a> documented 25 anti-LGBTQ homicides in the United States, the 4th highest yearly total ever recorded by the coalition. Likewise, pro-LGBT churches have been targeted for vandalism.</p>
<p>Pastor Matt Brown is under no obligation to attend the wedding of a gay or lesbian couple. However, claiming that he would attack pro-LGBT clergy sends a dangerous and chilling message that such violence is acceptable. Sandal Church needs to remove the video and make it clear that they in no way encourage or condone violence against LGBT people, or their allies. </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 24, 2013</span></div></div></div>
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Wed, 24 Jul 2013 20:30:04 +0000rossmurray67179 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/violent-preaching-video-targets-not-lgbt-couples-their-clergy-allies#commentsSojourners CEO Jim Wallis Supports Marriage Equalityhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/sojourners-ceo-jim-wallis-supports-marriage-equality
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img class="media-image" height="179" id="2" style="height: 179px; width: 250px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;;;;;;;" width="250" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/portrait_jim_wallis_5x7.jpg?itok=CxWK04nt" alt="" />In an interview with the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/05/jim-wallis-faith-politics-immigration_n_3024458.html">Huffington Post</a> last Friday, Sojourners CEO and Christian leader Jim Wallis spoke out in favor of marriage equality. Jaweed Kaleem was able to ask the right questions to solicit Wallis' affirmation of marriage equality.</p>
<p>"I want a deeper commitment to marriage that is more and more inclusive, and that's where I think the country is going," he said. When pressed and asked specifically if he supports marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, Wallis said, "yes."</p>
<p>This marks a decided shift from Wallis' position just two years ago. When Sojourners Magazine <a href="http://www.glaad.org/2011/08/16/glaad-moves-sojourners-magazine-into-fuller-conversation-about-lgbt-issues">refused to run a Mother's Day advertisement</a> from the trans-denominational organization Believe Out Loud because it was believed to promote marriage equality, Wallis and the organization came under sharp criticism, both from members of their progressive Christian audience and from LGBT advocacy organizations. GLAAD worked with Sojourners to highlight LGBT-inclusive causes that fell within Sojourners' central mission. Since then, Jim Wallis and Sojourners have been on a gradual shift to increasingly embrase full LGBT equality. </p>
<p>Wallis' shift mirrors the shift we have seen in several leaders over the past few weeks. Last month, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/evangelical-leader-rob-bell-supports-marriage-equality">Rob Bell</a> broke his silence on the issue and said to a San Francisco Episcopal congregation that he believes all couples should be able to marry. During Holy Week, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/evangelical-pastor-fired-supporting-marriage-equality-and-lgbt-inclusion">Ryan Bell</a> of Hollywood Adventist Church was fired for his vocal support of marriage equality and LGBT rights. After his interview, Wallis is now part of a growing and encouraging number of high-level, white, evangelical American leaders who are speaking out for marriage equality.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">April 10, 2013</span></div></div></div>
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Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:57:30 +0000toddclayton64373 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/sojourners-ceo-jim-wallis-supports-marriage-equality#commentsOffensive Anti-LGBT Evangelical Christian Video Resurfaces, Uses Terrible Stereotypes, Takes Aim at GLAADhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/offensive-anti-lgbt-evangelical-christian-video-resurfaces-uses-terrible-stereotypes-takes-aim
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span class="file"><img class="file-icon" alt="" title="video/youtube" src="/modules/file/icons/video-x-generic.png" /> <a href="/" type="video/youtube; length=0">h-p98umv1gg</a></span></p>
<p>An anti-LGBT YouTube video from July of 2012 resurfaced this week and is parading around the internet like a regal show pony. The video, posted by YouTube user "Apologetics", stars an unnamed woman who recites spoken word, rather unsuccessfully and foolishly, to the tune of funeral home music against a forested background about LGBT people and hell.</p>
<p>We thought this was a parody of anti-LGBT activists, but turns out, it's not.</p>
<p>"Don't propagate your hate because I have a higher standard on who you date," she begins. "I'm not here to rally against what the government legislates, I simply don't support a mind that is reprobate. Homosexuality is not innate, it is not a genetic trait. It cannot replicate the love between a man and a woman in which God did indeed create."</p>
<p>She draws on a slew of stereotypes—and, at one point, cites the discriminatory policy of American blood banks that prevents gay men from donating as proof for queer depravity. <br /><br /> "Now I can't dictate one's life and who they call soul mate," though she's definitely trying, "I simply don't want them to bake in the lake of fire for the name of love's sake. Homosexuality can only imitate. It will always be a counterfeit, a fake. It's like a poison that intoxicates the mind saying, "You can't choose your own fate.""<br /><br /><img class="media-image" id="2" style="height: 343px; width: 400px;" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Screen%20Shot.PNG?itok=dEBMWgZ1" alt="" /></p>
<p>While this video is months old, "Apologetics" released <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy3he6_wxBA">a new gem</a> just two weeks ago, and GLAAD gets a few special shout outs in their newest bigoted creation. Frustrated that Christians are being "marginalized by the radical queers", the narrator says that when Christians speak out against the LGBT community, "They're given the one finger salute." People who want to retain their image, though, "They bow to the god of GLAAD."</p>
<p>The July video communicates this same false victimization of religious people: "To advocate for this lifestyle is considered love," she says, "and to go against it is labeled hate. It's like they don't see what's at stake until it's too late."</p>
<p>Anti-LGBT religious people across the nation, realizing that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/opposition-to-same-sex-marriage-narrow-and-concentrated-study-finds/2013/03/06/99bfc3cc-8688-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html">their voices are becoming increasingly obsolete</a>, are falling back on this fallacious logic. As their extremist rhetoric struggles to find a welcome home in the public square, many are claiming to be the victims of religious intolerance. What they don’t seem to understand is that people not following their commands to hurt and persecute is not the same as religious intolerance. Bad religion doesn't deserve to be followed, and people are realizing it more and more.</p>
<p>Ever since Christianity became a privileged religion of power, men and women have been doing evil in the name of religious liberty. From the burning stakes of the Spanish Inquisition, to the lynching trees of the United States, religious persons—fearful of difference—have used their conviction for harm. We need a new face for religion in America, one that is radically inclusive, loving, and committed to fighting for the truly oppressed among us.</p>
<p>While these videos are disturbing, fortunately they no longer represent America's view of LGBT people. Even with the extremist language (and bad rhymes), GLAAD is proud to have its work to make entertainment, news, televnovelas, sports, the Boy Scouts and all of America more inclusive recognized. GLAAD will continue the work of keeping the public accountable for its comments, and fighting to make the country a safer place for all LGBT persons. But we won't write a poem about it.<br /> </p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Gy3he6_wxBA" width="425"></iframe></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">March 7, 2013</span></div></div></div>
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Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:09:52 +0000toddclayton63531 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/offensive-anti-lgbt-evangelical-christian-video-resurfaces-uses-terrible-stereotypes-takes-aim#commentsLGBTQ Club Denied Charter at Point Loma Nazarene University http://www.glaad.org/blog/lgbtq-club-denied-charter-point-loma-nazarene-university
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":138" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<p><img class="media-image" height="92" id="2" style="height: 92px; width: 251px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" width="251" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/-1.png?itok=iVQmBJag" alt="" />Last week, after months of effort, students at <a href="http://www.pointloma.edu/">Point Loma Nazarene University</a> in San Diego, CA were <a href="http://www.bridgepointloma.com/bridgepointloma-given-the-absolutely-not/">told by the Office of Student Development</a> that, “administration will shut down any club centered around sexual orientation that makes it through the club chartering process.”</p>
<p>In 2010, when <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-clayton/coming-out-at-christian-universities_b_1242404.html">Director of Spiritual Life</a>, Todd Clayton, came out while in office, the conversation around LGBT equality was brought to the surface on a campus that previously shied away from any sort of dialogue. Ultimately, Clayton quit after administrators told him he could only remain in his position if he agreed not to, “<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-clayton/coming-out-at-christian-universities_b_1242404.html">act gay</a>.”</p>
<p>Now two years later, LGBTQ students and straight allies who were given hope earlier this semester that an LGBTQ club chartering might, indeed, be possible find themselves devastated by the news that no institutional space will ever be created for them. </p>
<p>Sean Lewis, an openly gay senior at PLNU who was spearheading the effort said in a statement that he, “was slightly caught off guard since all my other conversations with the VP left me feeling optimistic.” He continued: “This is an ongoing topic that Point Loma Nazarene University is continuing to brush under the carpet.”</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="167" id="2" style="font-size: 13px; height: 167px; width: 251px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;;;;;" width="251" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/481882_364247696998606_1391324848_n.jpg?itok=irHsfm0g" alt="" />Most shocking to Lewis was the fact that the club charter he proposed was rejected, despite his best efforts to draft a non-divisive mission statement. Since PLNU is affiliated with the Nazarene Church, a conservative Christian denomination that does not recognize the right of LGBTQ women and men to be full members of its community, Lewis intentionally avoided the use of moral-theological statements about LGBTQ rights in his charter. </p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;"><em>“We are aware that LGBT students are a suffering population on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), and we have realized that the common exclusiveness of the Christian community can overlook the spiritual and interpersonal needs of LGBT community. Through entering this place, we hope LGBT students at PLNU can share their neglected stories, lingering questions, and increasing trials with their Christian comrades, and together, we can learn what it means to practice listening to and dignifying your political or theological enemy and actively learning to live and love in real-time. We hope to seek reconciliation not based on a change of belief system but rather from a commitment to live in relationship with opposing worldviews while seeking to understand and dignify the humanity of the “other.””</em></p>
<div>
<pre>This, however, was deemed too radical a mission by the PLNU Office of Student Development and denied a charter. In response to the school’s decision, <a href="http://action.groundswell-movement.org/petitions/i-support-a-point-loma-lgbtq-club">Clayton created a petition</a>, calling students, staff, faculty, and alumni who support Lewis’ endeavor to agree to abstain from funding the university through donations until the charter is passed. It reads: “Despite the denominational policy, many of us remain compelled to advocate for LGBTQ rights and find it difficult to remain associated with an institution that so blatantly makes LGBTQ students feel unwelcome and unloved. Institutional complexity does not absolve moral imperative to stand for justice even if that stand comes at great cost.” </pre><pre></pre><p><img class="media-image" height="166" id="2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 166px; width: 251px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;;;;;" width="251" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/292987_348573065216805_1717636358_n.jpg?itok=aS8Qg0js" alt="" />Since the petition went live Saturday morning, it has garnered over 500 signatories. What is significant about the petition, however, is the breadth of response: 15 former student government board members, 4 former student body presidents, 3 former directors of spiritual life, 4 current employees, 3 former employees, 32 seminarians, 12 ministers, 1 bold Nazarene pastor, parents of LGBTQ alumni, doctors, nurses, educators, and hundreds of current students.</p>
<p>About the petition, Clayton said, “taking a moral stand against the injustice is crucial. It is telling that an institution is creating graduates that find themselves morally incapable of supporting it after they leave. Signing the petition lets current LGBTQ students know that they are not alone, and that there is a network of alumni who find the injustice done against them atrocious. Injustice couched in religious language and piety remains injustice.” Clayton is currently a student at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.</p>
<pre>Take action and stand with the students of PLNU who are seeking to create a space for themselves to be safe on campus. We urge you to <a href="http://action.groundswell-movement.org/petitions/i-support-a-point-loma-lgbtq-club">sign Clayton’s petition</a>—which will be delivered to the President and cabinet of PLNU later this week—in a similar show of support. </pre></div>
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">December 10, 2012</span></div></div></div>
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Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:44:57 +0000rossmurray60748 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/lgbtq-club-denied-charter-point-loma-nazarene-university#commentsBeing Christian is Not a Barrier to Accepting LGBT Peoplehttp://www.glaad.org/blog/being-christian-not-barrier-accepting-lgbt-people
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img class="media-image" height="246" id="2" style="height: 246px; width: 120px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;;;;;" width="120" src="https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/chik_400x800_1.jpg?itok=7qwvyVrI" alt="" />In light of <a href="http://glaad.org/chick-fil-a">Chick-Fil-A</a> COO Dan Cathy’s statement that <a href="http://www.advocate.com/business/2012/07/17/chick-fil-coo-dan-cathy-officially-comes-out-antigay">his opposition to marriage equality is rooted in his belief</a> in the “biblical definition of the family unit,” GLAAD would like to point to the many Christians who understand that the “biblical” definition of family is not limited to husband, wife, and children, and who support marriage equality for all couples, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.</p>
<p>Many Christian denominations welcome LGBT families. Just last month, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/10/us/episcopal-same-sex-unions/index.html">the Episcopal Church voted to allow priests to conduct blessing ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples</a>, which may be part of a wedding ceremony depending on state law. While the Presbyterian (PCUSA), Methodist (UMC), and Lutheran (ELCA) churches in the United States do not yet officially support marriage equality, Presbyterians and Lutherans welcome LGBT pastors to ordination and LGBT individuals and families are welcomed into their churches. <a href="http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/06/01/united-methodist-church-votes-in-favour-of-same-sex-resolution/">Individual pastors</a> and parishioners from each tradition are supportive and have created welcoming and affirming ministries that have had a huge impact. Even Roman Catholics, whose Church Hierarchy has spoken out repeatedly against equality for LGBT people, are <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/american-catholics-support-marriage-equality-despite-church-position">overwhelmingly supportive</a> of both LGBT inclusion and of marriage equality.</p>
<p>It is also not at all uncommon for individuals to disagree with the official policy of the denomination to which they belong. Many of those people are working toward change from the inside, within organizations such as <a href="http://www.affirmation.org/">Affirmation</a> (Mormon), the <a href="http://www.awab.org/">Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists</a>, <a href="http://www.dignityusa.org/">DignityUSA</a> (Roman Catholic), <a href="http://www.integrityusa.org/">IntegrityUSA</a> (Episcopal), <a href="http://www.mlp.org/">More Light Presbyterians</a>, <a href="http://www.newwaysministry.org/">New Ways Ministry</a> (Roman Catholic), and <a href="http://www.reconcilingworks.org/">Reconciling Works</a> (Lutheran).</p>
<p>GLAAD urges the media to remember that religion does not dictate beliefs about an individual’s acceptance of LGBT people. There are many in the LGBT community who are themselves religious people and who find no conflict between their sexual orientation and their faith. For more information and resources, please check out GLAAD’s <a href="http://www.glaad.org/programs/faith">Religion, Faith, and Values Program</a>.</p>
<p>To find out more about actions against Chick-Fil-A, or to promote your own, visit the <a href="http://www.glaad.org/chick-fil-a">GLAAD Chick-fil-a action page</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://glaad.org/chick-fil-a/donate"><img class="media-image" id="2" style="height: 400px; width: 400px; " src="https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/skipthesandwich_5.png?itok=pQ62YNSB" alt="" /></a></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">August 1, 2012</span></div></div></div>
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Wed, 01 Aug 2012 20:38:06 +0000miriamlazewatsky58826 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/being-christian-not-barrier-accepting-lgbt-people#commentsJoin Matthew Vines on August 8 to discuss the Christian Bible and the Place of LGBT Peoplehttp://www.glaad.org/blog/join-matthew-vines-august-8-discuss-christian-bible-and-place-lgbt-people
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img class="media-image" height="154" id="2" style="margin: 5px; float: left;;" width="173" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/matthew-vines.jpg?itok=qjmc1W1L" alt="" />In March of this year, <a href="http://matthewvines.com/index.php/transcript">Matthew Vines</a> delivered a speech at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas discussing LGBT people and the Christian Bible. The speech was recorded and became a viral hit, making Vines one of the new voices for welcoming, inclusive Christianity. Now you have the chance to hear him live and engage in conversation.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ezQjNJUSraY" frameborder="0" height="239" width="425"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXDONATE/AddDonor.asp?cguid=811E8E4A-0714-4802-8D06-8782AE8F0D18&amp;sTarget=https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXDONATE/EventRegister.asp?cguid%3D811E8E4A%252D0714%252D4802%252D8D06%252D8782AE8F0D18%26eid%3D42891&amp;sid=95A4CCCC-7C56-4D4A-9473-AD7E6FBE119E">Click here to RSVP for a conversation with Matthew Vines</a>.</p>
<p>After admitting to himself that he was gay during his sophomore year of college, Vines took a leave of absence from Harvard University in order to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-vines/bible-homosexuality_b_1378368.html">devote himself to studying the Bible</a> in order to figure out how he could be gay and still “[uphold] Scripture as authoritative for Christian faith.” Thousands of hours of research led to an hour long talk, in which <a href="http://matthewvines.com/index.php/transcript">Vines concludes</a> that devout Christians should focus on passages such as “’honor one another above yourselves’ and ‘remember those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.’” He asks “how fully have you absorbed, not just the existence of gay and lesbian Christians, but the depth of the pain and the hurt that their own brothers and sisters have inflicted on them?”</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="195" id="2" style="margin: 5px; float: right;;" width="140" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/MarbleCollExt3.jpg?itok=r6RsuE4H" alt="" />On August 8, 2012 Vines will be at <a href="http://new.marblechurch.org/EventsCalendar/tabid/106/ctl/Details/mid/495/ItemID/2346/Default.aspx?selecteddate=8%2F8%2F2012">Marble Collegiate Church</a> in New York City to discuss his speech and research and talk with the audience about what it means to be gay and Christian. Please join GLAAD and Marble Collegiate as we discuss his proactive case for biblical support for LGBT people. If you have people in your lives who struggle with reconciling their Christian faith with support for LGBT people, you need to hear Matthew Vines.</p>
<p><a href="https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXDONATE/AddDonor.asp?cguid=811E8E4A-0714-4802-8D06-8782AE8F0D18&amp;sTarget=https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXDONATE/EventRegister.asp?cguid%3D811E8E4A%252D0714%252D4802%252D8D06%252D8782AE8F0D18%26eid%3D42891&amp;sid=95A4CCCC-7C56-4D4A-9473-AD7E6FBE119E">RSVP here</a>; the event is free. Let GLAAD know you’re planning to come, and invite your friends via the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/426456880726184/">Facebook event</a>.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 27, 2012</span></div></div></div>
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Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:07:28 +0000miriamlazewatsky58767 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/join-matthew-vines-august-8-discuss-christian-bible-and-place-lgbt-people#commentsLGBT Religion News Updates for September 28, 2011http://www.glaad.org/blog/lgbt-religion-news-updates-september-28-2011
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>GLAAD’s Religion, Faith &amp; Values program works to elevate LGBT-affirming voices of faith in mainstream, regional, and community media. To find out more, visit <a href="../../faith">www.glaad.org/faith</a>. For additional religion and faith updates, be sure to check out our <a href="../../issues/religion-faith.">blog</a>. We appreciate your suggestions, and thank you for forwarding. You may subscribe via <a href="mailto:faith@glaad.org">faith@glaad.org</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://heebmagazine.com/once-upon-a-gay%E2%80%A6/28813"><img class="media-image" id="6" style="float: right;" src="https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Michael%20Rodriguez_2.jpg?itok=A-RpbBzV" alt="" />Jayson Littman writes about his experience with JONAH</a>, the Orthodox Jewish so-called “ex-gay” program, and credits it with giving him the strength to come out as a gay Jew. Affirmation, the Mormon LGBT organization, gathers at a <a href="http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/joannabrooks/5161/lgbt_mormons_ask_in_historic_temple%3A_%E2%80%9Cif_they_could_just_see_us%2C_don%E2%80%99t_you_think_they_would_change_their_minds%E2%80%9D/">historic Mormon temple</a>. The priest who ran anti-gay advertisements in the El Paso Times <a href="http://www.kvia.com/news/29257419/detail.html#.TnqA1bTQjB8.facebook">has been transferred to a new parish</a>. The Diocese of El Paso cited excessive political check-in. Meanwhile, a more pro-gay Catholic parish <a href="http://www.app.com/article/20110925/NJNEWS/309250005/Long-Branch-parishoners-strike-out-on-their-own-as-independent-Catholics-">strike out on their own as independent Catholics</a>. Lastly, Candy Olson, a self-identifying Christian and fiscal conservative, marked the anniversary of end of Florida’s ban on adoptions by gay people, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/candy-olson/florida-gay-adoption_b_972539.html">by reflecting on her own family</a> and her relationship with the her child's father who now lives openly as a gay man.</p>
<p>For even more news concerning religion and the LGBT community, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter via <a href="mailto:faith@glaad.org">faith@glaad.org</a>.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 28, 2011</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/religion">Religion</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/christianity">christianity</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/mormons">Mormons</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/el-paso">El Paso</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/catholic-church">Catholic Church</a></li>
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Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:16:36 +0000jackiehockersmith34778 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/lgbt-religion-news-updates-september-28-2011#commentsGLAAD Moves Sojourners Magazine into Fuller Conversation About LGBT Issueshttp://www.glaad.org/2011/08/16/glaad-moves-sojourners-magazine-into-fuller-conversation-about-lgbt-issues
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><em><a href="http://www.sojo.net/">Sojourners</a></em> is a popular progressive Christian magazine and web site designed to focus on social justice issues. <em>Sojourners</em>’ founder, <a href="http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=about_us.display_staff&amp;staff=Wallis">Jim Wallis</a>, has often been cited as a voice for progressive Christianity. The readership of <em>Sojourners</em> comes from a variety of Christian denominations, but it has a demonstrated passion for social justice.</p>
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However, in a surprising move, <em>Sojourners</em> rejected a series of print ads by the <a href="http://www.believeoutloud.com/">Believe Out Loud campaign</a> in May. The purpose of Believe Out Loud is to help Christian congregations become more welcoming of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Believe Out Loud created a short and powerful video, featuring a young boy entering a church with his two mothers. The only two words spoken in the video are “Welcome, everyone.” The video, along with print ads, were to be timed for Mother’s Day.</p>
<iframe width="425" height="272" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P0buh-1quVs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><p>
The reaction to <em>Sojourners</em> was swift and very negative. Many people asked why an ad about congregational welcome was rejected by such a major progressive Christian magazine. <em>Sojourners</em> issued a series of <a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2011/05/09/a-statement-on-sojourners-mission-and-lgbtq-issues/">statements</a>, <a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2011/05/09/love-comes-first/">blog posts</a>, and <a href="http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=about_us.advert_faq">FAQs</a> that tried to “clarify” their stance. The reasons cited were that the core issues of <em>Sojourners</em> are “poverty, racial justice, stewardship of the creation, and the defense of life and peace.” Wallis reiterated his support for inclusion of LGBT people in the worship life of congregations. However he also stressed that <em>Sojourners</em> didn’t want the Believe Out Loud ad to imply that <em>Sojourners</em> takes a stance on marriage equality, preferring to remain neutral. <em>Sojourners</em> says that it wants to be supportive of LGBT people, but prefers to do that through the editorial process, rather than through advertising. Each statement issued seemed to fuel further anger from the <em>Sojourners</em> base.</p>
<p>GLAAD reached out to <em>Sojourners</em> directly to clarify the advertising and editorial policy concerning LGBT issues. The representative from <em>Sojourners</em> reiterated to GLAAD that <em>Sojourners</em> wants to keep its primary focus on issues of poverty/homelessness, war/peace, and environment. GLAAD reminded <em>Sojourners</em> that LGBT people are involved in all those issues and that LGBT people are affected by those issues just as much as, if not more than, the general population. In the course of the conversation, GLAAD asked if an LGBT organization who worked in those primary focus areas would be able to place an ad. Sojourner’s said yes, and GLAAD took them at their word.</p>
<p>GLAAD then was in contact with staff members from the <a href="http://www.aliforneycenter.org/">Ali Forney Center</a>, an LGBT youth homeless shelter in New York City. <a href="http://glaadblog.org/2011/06/17/update-tracy-morgan-meets-with-lgbt-youth-from-ali-forney-center-in-nyc/">The Ali Forney Center was instrumental presenting the stories of youth rejected from their homes to comedian Tracy Morgan after he went on an anti-gay rant during a June 3 comedy performance in Nashville, Tenn</a>. Carl Siciliano, the executive director of the Ali Forney Center, expressed a strong interest in reaching out to evangelical and mainline protestant Christians with information about causes of youth homelessness, particularly the connection between family rejection and LGBT youth homelessness. He shared with us that <a href="http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/HomelessYouth_ExecutiveSummary.pdf">one quarter of LGBT youth rejected by their parents become homeless and nearly 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT</a> (pdf). Using these statistics, GLAAD and the Ali Forney Center created a full-page, color ad that is currently running in the September/October issue of <em>Sojourners</em> magazine.</p>
<p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/RFV_use.jpg"><img src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/RFV_use-238x300.jpg" alt="" title="Sojourners Advertisement" width="238" height="300" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-42504" /></a>What does such an ad do? Several things. It tests the notion of whether <em>Sojourners</em> would really accept an ad placed by an LGBT-focused organization. It also demonstrates to the leadership and readership the overlap between the LGBT community and poverty, war/peace, and environment. It also continues the conversation about LGBT inclusion in the life of the church and the world. Through the conversations about the ad, <em>Sojourners</em> got more interested in the topic of youth homelessness (which falls under their “poverty” category). They intend to run a series of blog posts about LGBT youth homelessness that were inspired by the facts listed on the ad. These facts shed a harsh light on the theology of exclusion, which teaches parents to reject their children when they come out, increasing the likelihood of homelessness in LGBT youth. One of the blog posts will feature an interview with Carl Siciliano, where he will share his calling to work with LGBT homeless youth, and how we can best address and prevent youth from becoming homeless, namely by loving and accepting our children, no matter what.</p>
<p>The placement of the ad, as well as the blog posts about LGBT youth homelessness, are wonderful steps forward for Sojourner’s Magazine. GLAAD is proud to have played a role in helping <em>Sojourners</em> understand the intersection between LGBT people and poverty, war/peace, and environment. Additionally, GLAAD is delighted that an important organization like the Ali Forney Center will be lifted up to a new audience and given the opportunity to speak prophetic words concerning our young people. At the same time, GLAAD is aware that there is much more that <em>Sojourners</em> could do. As we continue working together, GLAAD will continually call on <em>Sojourners</em> to address and support other issues that are important to LGBT people: employment nondiscrimination, violence against LGBT people, transgender discrimination in housing and employment, and yes, even marriage equality. This is a first step on the journey, but by taking this step, GLAAD has found new potential allies and opened their eyes to the realities of LGBT people’s lives.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">August 16, 2011</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/ali-forney-center">Ali Forney Center</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/christianity">christianity</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/faith">Faith</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/religion">Religion</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/sojourners">Sojourners</a></li>
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Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:20:39 +0000rossmurray34244 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2011/08/16/glaad-moves-sojourners-magazine-into-fuller-conversation-about-lgbt-issues#comments